Proud Canada

Last month, after the terrorist murders of two Canadian soldiers, Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent and Corporal Nathan Cirillo, we set up a crowdfunding website to raise $100,000 the families of the deceased soldiers. In literally seven days, we raised the funds.

Today, I was delighted to cut two cheques in equal measure, for $50,000 each, to the trust funds set up by the regiments for these two families.

The outpouring of generosity from Canadians led me to say that if we raised surplus funds, which we did, I would them to set up a fund for other families of fallen soldiers.

While other charities for soldiers and their families do good work, I was disappointed to see up to 40% of their revenues were consumed by overhead.

So here’s what I’ve done. I have put together a team of professionals who have agreed to either do the work for free, or donate the cost of their services back to the charity.

I've donated the cost of the website. A leading charity lawyer in Ottawa, Adam Aptowitzer, has generously agreed to do the legal incorporation. And, accounting services will be generously provided by Ryan Knight of Campbell Lawless LLP.

Two Canadian Forces veterans have agreed to serve on the board –Marcus Sterzer, who served in Afghanistan, and Brian Macdonald, who served in Bosnia.

Our goal is to keep the expenses to an absolute minimum -- as close to zero as possible -- so we can give the maximum funds to the families.

If you want to make this your go-to charity also, just sign up below.

The minute we are registered as a CRA charity, and can start issuing charitable tax receipts, I’ll send you an e-mail so you know.

Thank you for joining me in doing something positive and honouring those who keep Canada strong and free.

Yours truly,

Ezra Levant
November 11, 2014

Add your name here and the moment we get our CRA charity number, I’ll e-mail you to let you know. I hope our charity will be there for the troops, in a very small proportion of the way they are always there for us.